Assange urges countries to offer Snowden asylum

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has called for countries to step forward to offer asylum to National Security Agency whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Mr Assange said in a statement: "A few weeks ago, Edward Snowden blew the whistle on an ongoing programme - involving the Obama administration, the intelligence community and the internet services giants - to spy on everyone in the world.

Julian Assange speaks to the media inside the Ecuadorian Embassy in London Credit: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire

"As if by clockwork, he has been charged with espionage by the Obama administration.

"The US Government is spying on each and every one of us, but it is Edward Snowden who is charged with espionage for tipping us off.

"Let's be very careful about who we call 'traitor'. Edward Snowden is one of us.